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October 27th, 2002 – I had seen Emmitt and the Cowboys just a week earlier in Arizona. When I purchased the tickets, I knew I would have a chance to see the all-time rushing record broken. I fell just 93 yards short and Emmitt went on to break the record at Texas Stadium the following week.

As Emmitt heads for the hallowed halls of Canton it can be said, with confidence, that this record may never be broken again. In this new era of the two and three-headed running backs by committee is it even conceivable? There is only one active player even in the top 10 in regards to all-time leading rushers (LaDainian Tomlinson), and he is still almost 6,000 yards away.

As a stats guy, I recognize that it is possible for LT to surpass Emmitt. In fact, LT’s career rushing stats through 9 seasons are actually better than Emmitt’s career stats by an average of 164 yards per year. Although I said possible, I am not saying probable! Now that LT has moved on to the Jets’ ground and pound offense, you have to wonder whether he will get the touches or even have the fortitude needed to surpass Emmitt.

Off in the distance, you will almost always hear the “but if Barry hadn’t retired”, or the “if Barry would’ve had a line like Emmitt’s” argument. These arguments are most always from Dallas haters rather than from actual fans of Barry himself. Again, statistically it was possible, admittedly even probable – but it didn’t happen that way!

What did happen was that the hole in the roof was used for someone else to watch the Cowboys play that day. That day, a bit of “sweetness” was used to shine the star a bit brighter forever more on the helmet of the great number 22.

Well what can I say besides that the NFL will soon be a touch football league if they keep this up. I mean for crying out loud football is dangerous and anyone who plays knows this and are willing to take the risk to play and the more rules the owners come up with to “protect” the player just ruins the game of football in my opinion and I found the article about the rules on nfl.com.

NFL owners have passed four player safety rules for next season. One of them is the elimination of blindside helmet-to-helmet blocks.

The changes came Tuesday at the NFL meetings in California.

The new rules state that the initial force of a blindside block can’t be delivered by a helmet, forearm or shoulder to an opponent’s head or neck. An illegal blindside block will bring a 15-yard penalty.

Initial contact to the head of a defenseless receiver also will draw a 15-yard penalty.

On kickoffs, no blocking wedge of more than two players will be allowed. Also, the kicking team can’t have more than five players bunched together pursuing an onside kick.

So please tell me your feelings on these rules that are ruining the game of football.

Anthony Henry did not practice this week. With the high ankle injury he sustained, it may take more time to heal than first thought. It definitely would have been nice to have him for this big game.

Keith Davis practice fully the last two days after a shoulder injury that kept him out of the last two games. Davis will be a game time decision.

Kevin Burnett has had bad luck with injuries this year. During the third quarter of the Bills game he took a helmet to the thigh and suffered some pain and bruising. He should be ready to play on Sunday.